Compactor demonstration device

ABSTRACT

For use with trash compacting apparatus in repeated demonstrations thereof an air-tight flexible cover constructed to assume the shape of the compactor receptacle in an expanded condition, a cellular compressible block of material inside the cover is normally erect with air contained in its cells to urge the cover to its expanded condition, and a one-way valve in the cover inhibits the ingress of air into said cover. Compression of the cover and block forces air from the cells of the block to exit from said cover through the valve, and thereafter atmospheric pressure will prevent expansion of said cover under the influence of said block tending to resume its normal shape until the valve is opened. The cover includes on its outer surface two dimensional replicas of trash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, and the like. An incompressible block may be supported in the top of the cover to avoid its entanglement with the face of the compactor ram.

[451 Nov. 2e, new

COMPACTOR DEMONSTRATION DEVICE Inventors: Charles R. Evans, Troy; .lamesB.

Barber, Dayton; [Ernst Grunewalld, Troy; John F. Pernilr, J12, Dayton,

Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb Att0meyLawrence B. Biebel et a1.

[57 ABSTRACT For use with trash compacting apparatus in repeateddemonstrations thereof an air-tight flexible cover constructed to assumethe shape of the compactor receptacle in an expanded condition, acellular compressible block of material inside the cover is normallyerect with air contained in its cells to urge the cover to its expandedcondition, and a one-way valve in the cover inhibits the ingress of airinto said cover. Compression of the cover and block forces air from thecells of the block to exit from said cover through the valve, andthereafter atmospheric pressure will prevent expansion of said coverunder the influence of said block tending to resume its normal shapeuntil the valve is opened. The cover includes on its outer surface twodimensional replicas of trash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, andthe like. An incompressible block may be supported in the top of thecover to avoid its entanglement with the face of the compactor ram.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU NOV 20 ms FiG-l k llllllll FIG-2 m\f Q 4 s COMPACTOR DEMONSTRATION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to trash compacting apparatus and particularly to ademonstration device which may conveniently be employed to demonstratethe function of trash compacting machines in an environment where use ofactual trash is either inconvenient or impossible. Within the past twoyears or so, due in part to increasing interest in ecological matters,there has been a widening interest in trash compactors, particularly fordomestic use. Like many other home appliances, these trash compactorsintended for installation in the home are sold from department stores,appliance stores, and similar establishments, where it is oftendesirable to have live demonstrations to prospective customers. This hasbeen accomplished, so far, by collecting empty cans, bottles, orpaperboard cartons, crumpled papers and the like, in other words actualtrash, using it in the live demonstrations, and then disposing of itafter it is compacted. Obviously, this presents some difficulty inacquiring and disposing of them, particularly in business establishmentswhere facilities for trash disposal are remote, or sometimes expensive.

The need exists, therefore, for some means to provide reusable trashwhich can be employed for demonstration purposes without the need forcollection and/or disposal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, ademonstration device is provided which simulates an actual load ofuncompressed items in the compactor, the device being capable of beingcompressed to simulate the actual functioning of the compactor,essentially retain the compacted condition, and later easily be restoredto an original position in which an uncompacted load again is simulated.The essential parts of the demonstration device are a flexible coverformed of air-tight material, shaped and connected to define ablock-like member which fits into the receptacle of the trash compactor.A one-way air valve is provided in a convenient location on the cover,preferably near its top, and arranged to permit air to exit or exhaustfrom the cover automatically and normally to inhibit ingress of air intothe cover. The valve also includes a means for opening it against theaction of atmospheric pressure tending to close it when the cover iscollapsed, whereby air can enter the cover as it is urged to its normalerected condition.

Within the cover there is a collapsible means which normally urges thecover into its erected condition. Preferably, this means is in the formof a cellular compressible block, such as a block of relatively densecompressible synthetic foam material. This block is dimensioned suchthat in its normal state it expands the cover to the erected condition,but application of compressive forces to the cover will cause the foamto collapse, with air from the cells and interstices of the block beingforced out and through the valve to collapse the block and the cover,simulating a compressed quantity of trash items.

Preferably the exterior of the cover is provided with two-dimensionalreplicas of trash items, such as bottles, can, cartons and the like in anon-compacted condition. When the cover is collapsed these replicas willsimulate compressed itemsof the same type.

Also, the device preferably includes a noncompressible block or piecesupported within the upper end of the cover, and attached to the cover,to prevent the cover from entangling around the ram of the compactor asthe demonstration device is collapsed within the compactor by pressureof the ram.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide ademonstration device for use in compacting apparatus, which simulates anon-compacted load of trash items, can be compacted and maintained inthe compacted condition to simulate a compacted load of the same items,and can later be erected for reuse in demonstration of the trashcompacting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe compactor showing the receptacle thereof in both its compacting andnon-compacting positions;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, with some parts broken away and interiorparts shown in cross-section, of the demonstration device provided bythe invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a somewhat enlarged scaleshowing details of the interior construction of the device; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, elevation and crosssectional views of aone-way valve used in the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the compactor includes an upstanding housing 12 within which areceptacle 14 is received over the base 15. As shown in FIG. 1, thereceptacle 14 may take the form of a drawer mounted on slides 14abetween a compacting position fully within the housing 12 and anon-compacting or loading position outwardly of the housing, as shown indotted lines in FIG. 1.

A ram 16 is also positioned in the housing and carries a motor 18 which,through a suitable drive chain 2%, drives sprockets 21 to cause theentire ram mounted assembly to move upwardly and downwardly along thestationary jack screws 22. Preferably, three such jack screws will beutilized, arranged in triangular relationship with two jack screwspositioned adjacent the front of the housing and one jack screwpositioned centrally adjacent a rear wall of the housing.

Thus, the ram is movable between an inactive or retfr'acted positionwherein its lower surface M clears an upper edge 26 of the receptacle,permitting the receptacle to be moved outwardly to the non-compactingposition where loading and unloading can occur, and a compactingposition within said receptacle when the receptacle is fully positionedwith in the housing 12.

The drive motor 18 for the ram is provided with a starting and reversingcontrol (not shown) which will automatically initiate a compactingstroke of the ram, and will cause the ram to retract to its inactiveposition after some predetermined load is imposed on the motor as itdrives the ram in the compacting stroke.

While the receptacle 114i is locked in position during compactingmovement of the ram, access may still be had to the interior of thecompactor through the upper access door 28. Waste material, particularlysmall items such as milk cartons, bottles, cans, etc., can be depositedin the compactor, where they will rest in a small compartment formed bythe inclined shelf 30 and the protective wall 32, until such time as thereceptacle 14 is moved outwardly of the housing. This will allowarticles lying on shelf 30 to fall into the receptacle 14. The user,therefore, need not wait until the receptacle is unlocked to depositmaterial in the compactor, but he is of course protected against injury,etc., during operation of the ram by the wall 32.

A safety interlock switch (not shown), the housing for which is shown at34, is mounted inside the front of the housing, as seen in FIG. 1, andis engaged by a pin 35 when the receptacle 14 is in its compactingposition.

The demonstration device, as shown particularly in FIG. 2, comprises acollapsible means, preferably in the form of a block of compressiblecellular material, such as a resilient synthetic foam material, which israther dense and has a great number of interstices throughout, wherebyin its normal erect condition the block contains a substantial amount ofair. This block is shown at 40, and it is surrounded by an air-tightcover 42 which may be constructed, for example, of a vinyl sheetmaterial heat sealed at the seams, and preferably having a somewhatgreater volume than the block 40, leaving a space at its upper end.Within this space there is supported a solid, relatively incompressible,block 44 which is suitably secured into the top of the cover, forexample by cementing or otherwise adhering it to the cover, or as shownin FIG. 3, supporting it with a web 45 which extends from one side tothe other of the cover, attached to the narrower sides and free to moveon the other sides providing essentially free passage of air past theweb 45. In place of the block other devices may be used such as aninverted rigid pan-like structure.

A one-way air control valve 50 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is fastened to the cover,for example mounted on one of the major sides near the top thereof asshown in FIG. 2. This valve may conveniently be formed of a flap body 52dimensioned to cover one or more holes 53 in the cover, and attached tothe cover at three of its sides as by a heat weld 55 or the like to theexterior of the cover 42, providing a mounting and hinge for the valvebody. The valve flap can be manually released merely by inserting ablunt tool, or a finger, between the flap and the cover.

The valve is mounted to the exterior of the cover such that air ispermitted to exit from within the cover when it and the compressibleblock 40 therein are compressed, however inflow of air into the coveronce it is compressed is blocked by reason of the flap being positionedover the holes 53, and atmospheric pressure acting to seat the flap inthis condition.

The exterior of the cover 42 preferably is provided with two dimensionalreplicas of trash items, such as bottles, cans, cartons and the like,indicated generally at 60. These are reproduced on the cover by a simpleprinting process, and shown in an uncompacted condition when the coveris fully extended, with the compressible block in its normal condition.

The cover, when fully expanded, is dimensioned to fit within thereceptacle 14, to simulate a load of trash in the receptacle. When thecompacting apparatus is operated through a compacting cycle, thedemonstration device will be compacted or collapsed with thecompressible block 40 collapsing on itself as air is squeezed from itsmany passages and interstices. This air flows to the interior walls ofcover 42 and is forced out past the valve flap 52. The incompressibleblock 44, being secured to and in the upper portion of the cover,assures that parts of the cover do not fold around the face of ram 16during the compacting operation. As the compactor finishes its cycle,and the ram is withdrawing, the valve flap will close, inhibitingingress of air into the cover, and atmospheric pressure on the valveflap will hold it closed, leaving the demonstration device compactedwithin the bottom of the receptacle 14. The replicas of trash items onthe exterior of the cover will appear to be distorted and compactedtogether, simulating an actual operating condition of the compactorwhere trash items are compressed together within the receptacle.

The demonstration device can readily be withdrawn from the receptacle,and will show the compaction which has occurred. Merely by moving theflap 52, the valve can be opened. The compressible block 40 will expandto its normal shape, and air will flow in through the hole 53 duringthis operation, causing the demonstration device to resume its normalerected dimensions at which time it can then again be used fordemonstration purposes. Other devices, such as springs or the like, canprovide the compressible means within the cover, however the cellularblock is desirable from the standpoint of simplicity, expense andreliability.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A demonstration device for use with trashcompacting apparatus, comprising an essentially air-tight flexiblecover, compressible means inside said cover and normally urging saidcover to an erect expanded condition,

and a one-way valve in said cover arranged to allow free flow of air outof said cover upon compaction of said cover and said compressible meansand thereafter automatically to inhibit the ingress of air into saidcover whereby compression of said cover and said compressible means willforce air to exit from said cover and atmospheric pressure willthereafter prevent restoration of said cover under the influence of saidcompressible means tending to resume its normal shape until said valveis opened.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said cover includes on itsouter surface two dimensional replicas of trash items such as bottles,cans, cartons, and the like.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said compressible means is acellular compressible block of material normally having a shapecorresponding to the expanded shape of said cover.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said block occupies the majorpart of the internal volume of said cover,

and a relatively rigid block within said cover filling the top thereofabove said compressible block.

5. A device of the type described for use with trash compactingapparatus in repeated demonstrations thereof, comprising an essentiallyair tight flexible cover contructed and arranged in an expandedcondition to assume a predetermined shape,

a cellular compressible block of material inside said cover and normallyerect with air contained in its cells to urge said cover to its expandedcondition a one-way valve in said cover arranged to inhibit the ingressof air into said cover such that compression of said cover and saidblock will force air from the cells of said block to exit from saidcover through said valve whereby thereafter atmospheric pressure willprevent expansion of said cover under the influence of said blocktending to resume its normal shape,

said cover including on its outer surface two dimensional replicas oftrash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, and the like.

6. A device of the type described for use with trash compactingapparatus in repeated demonstrations thereof, comprising an essentiallyair-tight flexible cover constructed and arranged in an expandedcondition to assume a predetermined shape,

a cellular compressible block of material inside said cover and normallyerect with air contained in its cells to urge said cover to its expandedcondition, a rigid relatively incompressible member attached to theinterior of said cover at its top,

and a one-way valve in said cover arranged to inhibit the ingress of airinto said cover such that compression of said cover and said block willforce air from the cells of said block to exit from said cover throughsaid valve whereby thereafter atmospheric pressure will preventexpansion of said cover under the influence of said block tending toresume its normal shape until said valve is openedv 7; A device of thetype described for use with trash compacting apparatus in repeateddemonstrations thereof, comprising a flexible cover constructed andarranged in an expanded condition to assume a predetermined shape,

a compressible member inside said cover and normally erect to urge saidcover to its expanded condition,

manually releasable means arranged to prevent expansion of said coverunder the influence of said compressible member to prevent said coverresuming its normal shape immediately following its compression by thecompacting apparatus,

said cover including on its outer surface two dimensional replicas oftrash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, and the like simulatingactual trash items upon which the compacting apparatus will operate.

1. A demonstration device for use with trash compacting apparatus,comprising an essentially air-tight flexible cover, compressible meansinside said cover and normally urging said cover to an erect expandedcondition, and a one-way valve in said cover arranged to allow free flowof air out of said cover upon compaction of said cover and saidcompressible means and thereafter automatically to inhibit the ingressof air into said cover whereby compression of said cover and saidcompressible means will force air to exit from said cover andatmospheric pressure will thereafter prevent restoration of said coverunder the influence of said compressible means tending to resume itsnormal shape until said valve is opened.
 2. A device as defined in claim1 wherein said cover includes on its outer surface two dimensionalreplicas of trash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, and the like. 3.A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said compressible means is acellular compressible block of material normally having a shapecorresponding to the expanded shape of said cover.
 4. A device asdefined in claim 3, wherein said block occupies the major part of theinternal volume of said cover, and a relatively rigid block within saidcover filling the top thereof above said compressible block.
 5. A deviceof the type described for use with trash compacting apparatus inrepeated demonstrations thereof, comprising an essentially air tightflexible cover contructed and arranged in an expanded condition toassume a predetermined shape, a cellular compressible block of materialinside said cover and normally erect with air contained in its cells tourge said cover to its expanded condition a one-way valve in said coverarranged to inhibit the ingress of air into said cover such thatcompression of said cover and said block will force air from the cellsof said block to exit from said cover through said valve wherebythereafter atmospheric pressure will prevent expansion of said coverunder the influence of said block tending to resume its normal shape,said cover including on its outer surface two dimensional replicas oftrash items such as bottles, cans, cartons, and the like.
 6. A device ofthe type described for use with trash compacting apparatus in repeateddemonstrations thereof, comprising an essentially air-tight flexiblecover constructed and arranged in an expanded condition to assume apredetermined shape, a cellular compressible block of material insidesaid cover and normally erect with air contained in its cellS to urgesaid cover to its expanded condition, a rigid relatively incompressiblemember attached to the interior of said cover at its top, and a one-wayvalve in said cover arranged to inhibit the ingress of air into saidcover such that compression of said cover and said block will force airfrom the cells of said block to exit from said cover through said valvewhereby thereafter atmospheric pressure will prevent expansion of saidcover under the influence of said block tending to resume its normalshape until said valve is opened.
 7. A device of the type described foruse with trash compacting apparatus in repeated demonstrations thereof,comprising a flexible cover constructed and arranged in an expandedcondition to assume a predetermined shape, a compressible member insidesaid cover and normally erect to urge said cover to its expandedcondition, manually releasable means arranged to prevent expansion ofsaid cover under the influence of said compressible member to preventsaid cover resuming its normal shape immediately following itscompression by the compacting apparatus, said cover including on itsouter surface two dimensional replicas of trash items such as bottles,cans, cartons, and the like simulating actual trash items upon which thecompacting apparatus will operate.